patience
_________
in the regular line at the market today,
not the express line, the man ahead of
me turned towards me and looked at
my basket quizzically
are you after my crackers, I said,
jovially, I’ve been stocking up on
a favourite brand on sale
no, he said, but you could be in
the express line with your only
five articles
I don’t mind the wait, I replied, and I
didn’t take the time to count
I hate waiting in line, he said, I want
to get out of here as quickly as
possible
I’ve slowed everything down to a
snail’s pace, I said, it makes you,
I think, a nicer person, plus you
get to smell the basil and the
raspberries
I guess I’m not a nice person, he
countered, not at all, I replied, you
are evidently friendly, you addressed
me, you were concerned, put forth a
desire to help
he glistened, blushed, was manifestly
nonplussed, speechless, then his turn
came up at the check-out counter
at the cash he glowered at some
empty baskets that had been left
there unattended, discombobulating
his station, I refrained from
instinctively moving them myself,
since I would’ve lost my place in line
in the process, and though I might
sometimes be gracious, I am mostly
not subservient, though that’s up still
for some metaphysical consideration
I made it home with my five items,
the sky was blue, but again there’s
smoke above the mountains
shrouding the eastern horizon,
from forest fires burning inexorably
in our Interior
the sky is falling, we need to take
care of each other, ourselves
R ! chard
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